Makhmud Alisultanovich Esambayev (Chechen: Махмуд Алисултанович Эсамбаев) (July 15, 1924 - January 7, 2000) was a Chechenactor and dancer. Makhmud was regarded as one of the most famous dancers of the Soviet Union.[1]

Makhmud was known for always wearing his papakha hat, calling it "my crown" and not even removing it when meeting with a head of state. His papakha made an unparalleled and very conspicuous presence on the floor of the Soviet legislature. On noticing it, the Soviet leaderLeonid Brezhnev would murmur that "Makhmud is here, it's time to call the session open."[citation needed]

Hero of Socialist Labour with the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle"; by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 13 July 1984 for outstanding contributions to the development of Soviet choreography on the sixtieth birthday of People's Artist of the USSR Esambaev Mahmoud Alisultanovichu